Chapter 205: A Piece of Paper
In Cang Prefecture, the status of the Sublime Bright Sect has always been revered and unshakable. No one has ever encountered such an occurrence.
Naturally, the daoist also felt that such a thing was too bizarre, but he could not say anything.
Daoist Master Ironcloud's indifferent voice sounded once again, "That boy has many secrets on him, they mustn't be spread. So you know what needs to be done."
The daoist nodded and said softly, "I'll send someone to kill them tonight."
"Stop being stupid, if you all fail again, don't bother returning. That matter cannot be known by outsiders. Otherwise, you know what kind of consequences it will lead to."
Daoist Master Ironcloud said with some disdain, "I really can't understand why fools like you can still cultivate."
Daoist Master Ironcloud did not make any effort to hide his disgust.
The daoist dared not say anything else, bowing and withdrawing. He needed to personally descend the mountain to oversee the attack tonight.
The observatory quietened down again.
Daoist Master Ironcloud stood up and turned towards the mountain.
He was towering and well-built, he actually did not look like a daoist at all, but more like a martial artist instead.
He walked through the forest in silence, but did not make a sound.
The observatory was already the highest point on the mountain. Where he needed to go now should be down the mountain. However, for some reason, he soon arrived at a hidden mountain path. After a few steps, he was faced with a stone wall.
Daoist Master Ironcloud stood before the stone wall and was silent for a long time. Then he extended his hand and pressed a certain spot on the stone wall. Then, the stone wall rippled, revealing a small hole that should be a keyhole.
Daoist Master Ironcloud took out an iron key from his bosom and inserted it into the hole. Turning it slightly, the stone wall suddenly began to rumble. Then, the stone wall opened toward both sides, revealing a deep cave.
It was precisely the height of a person.
Without hesitation, Daoist Master Ironcloud pulled out the key and walked in.
After a moment, the stone wall slowly closed, leaving no trace of any gaps.
Daoist Master Ironcloud vanished from sight as if he had never appeared.
Within that deep cave lay the Sublime Bright Sect's greatest secret, one that only successive sect masters were qualified to know.
The first time Daoist Master Ironcloud came here, he was deeply shocked too.
It was because numerous daoist techniques were inscribed on the stone walls inside the cave. These techniques did not belong to the Sublime Bright Sect; they were things that successive sect masters had stolen from other sects through various means. Some daoist techniques were even obtained by completely annihilating entire sects.
Each of these techniques carried a bloody or dark tale. This was the Sublime Bright Sect's greatest secret, and its greatest atrocity.
In the past, Daoist Master Ironcloud would move very slowly here, as he needed to commit those techniques to memory. However, perhaps because he had already walked this path many times or perhaps due to him looking down on those techniques now, he did not pause for a moment. He walked very fast and arrived inside the stone cave.
The layout here was very ordinary, there was only a cushion. Above the cushion, there was an opening from which a ray of light would shine down.
When night fell, this place would be bathed in huge amounts of starlight, making it the most suitable place for cultivation.
Indeed, the observatory was not the most suitable place for cultivation, it was this place.
Looking at that round cushion, Daoist Master Ironcloud was silent for a long time.
Then, he reached out and moved that cushion away, revealing what was underneath it.
It was a piece of paper.
A piece of paper radiating a golden light.
Upon closer examination, the golden glow did not radiate from the paper itself, but from the words written on it.
Clearly, these characters were written with golden sand ink. However, even if it was golden sand, it should not shine with a golden light either.
Moreover, apart from this golden light, an exceedingly terrifying aura exuded from the paper.
This meant that the cultivator who wrote this piece of paper back then must have been an exceedingly profound powerhouse, that was why the aura still existed after so many years had passed.
"No, not Nepenthe Realm."
Daoist Master Ironcloud picked up that piece of paper teeming with golden light, sat down on the cushion, and mumbled to himself, "If it was Nepenthe Realm, why would I still find it so terrifying after countless years?"
Though both were in the Nepenthe Realm, even if there was a difference in strength, Daoist Master Ironcloud did not think that a paper written by a Nepenthe Realm powerhouse would still strike fear into him, a Nepenthe Realm powerhouse, after so many years.
"Perhaps it's the work of an immortal."
Daoist Master Ironcloud looked at the piece of paper in his hand, his eyes feeling very sore, but his heart was incredibly excited.
Since obtaining this golden paper, he had been studying what was recorded on it. It was not a daoist technique, it just seemed to be words left behind by someone. However, due to that person's overwhelming cultivation realm, Daoist Master Ironcloud could glean considerable benefits from it. His current cultivation level had also grown because of this piece of paper.
But perhaps due to the disparity in cultivation realms, even if it was him, after studying it for this period of time, he had only read a few lines of text. At most, he could only read a few words before needing an extended rest.
But the more so, the more excited he was.
And the more he yearned to obtain what was written further ahead.
This piece of paper definitely held a great secret.
Moreover, it was evident from the content that there were more records both before and after this piece of paper. If he could obtain all the pages, Daoist Master Ironcloud might be able to uncover a huge secret.
"It might be an ancient secret, or maybe a set of lost daoist techniques from some sect, maybe it's the technique of immortals!"
Daoist Master Ironcloud looked at the piece of paper before him. Even if it was not the first time he had seen it, he was still incomparably excited.
Ordinary cultivators believed that reaching the Nepenthe Realm was the endpoint of cultivation. Yet, only Nepenthe cultivators like him understood that there were very likely other realms above Nepenthe Realm.
Perhaps that level would be the true realm of immortals.
That was a realm that countless Nepenthe cultivators wanted to step into.
For the Dao society, it was especially so. Countless years ago, due to differences in cultivation philosophies, the Dao society divided into the Longevity Dao and the Great Peace Dao. The Great Peace Dao lineage had little interest in the concept of eternal life, they had always been free and leisurely. On the other hand, the Longevity Dao lineage had persistently pursued the concept of eternal life, but had yet to achieve it.
As a part of the Longevity Dao lineage, the Sublime Bright Sect naturally shared the same aspirations as other daoist sects of Longevity Dao.
"Even if there are no answers, as long as I obtain all the pages and read them all, my cultivation will definitely make significant progress."
Silently contemplating, Daoist Master Ironcloud felt that just by reading this piece of paper during this period, he had already sensed the stagnated qi within him, which had not made progress for many years, was now resembling an old tree sprouting new buds in spring; there was progress. This was undoubtedly something extremely important to him.
Even without any so-called secret of immortals or eternal life, he would definitely gain tremendous benefits from those pages.
"Infatuation Daoist Temple? One day, my Sublime Bright Sect will become the leader of Daoism in this world!"
Daoist Master Ironcloud broke into a smile, his eyes brimming with countless aspirations.
But immediately after, a trace of worry flickered in his eyes too.
The secret of this paper was closely related to the secret on that boy. If that boy were to leak the information, it would not be a good thing.
Originally, everything had progressed incredibly smoothly over the years. But because of those stupid fellows, problems cropped out of nowhere.
"Fools! If they really hindered my affairs, they will all die!"
Gripping the piece of paper, Daoist Master Ironcloud looked at the cave opening above him, making no attempts to hide the ferocity in his eyes.